Kashmir issue will be resolved through indigenous struggle: Aziz

Islamabad, (IANS) Days ahead of his visit to India, Pakistan’s foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz on Friday said the Kashmir issue would only be resolved through “indigenous” movement within the Valley led by the younger generation.

Aziz told lawmakers in the National Assembly that Pakistan would continue extending political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri cause on international and bilateral fora.

“We have been taking our diplomatic campaign forward with zeal since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech regarding the Kashmir issue in the United Nations General Assembly.

“The movement has not lost any of its zeal even after the criticism against the speech, and Pakistan will continue to support the movement,” the Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated.

He also said that Pakistan is willing to hold dialogue with India on all issues, on condition that the “Kashmir dispute” is brought to the table and a resolution sought in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

“Even though we have a policy of neighbourly relations with all countries in the region, we will stick to this policy on the Kashmir issue,” he said.

The adviser’s statement comes after Indian troops “targeted” a passenger bus and ambulance across the Line of Control earlier this week, and killed three Pakistan Army soldiers and 10 civilians in various incidents of “unprovoked” firing.

Tension between the two countries is again at a peak following an alleged Indian “surgical strike” across the border, unrest in Kashmir and a terror attack on the Uri army base in September.

Since then there have been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing in Kashmir, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries, including of civilians.